Welcoming the Freshness of a New Year
In the world of literature and camaraderie, the local book club is gearing up for its annual tradition - the yearly book club cookie exchange. This festive event, taking place one night in December, marks the beginning of a new literary journey for the club.
This year, the book club has selected 11 thought-provoking books that will be read and discussed throughout the year. The first book of the year is "God of the Woods" by Liz Moore, followed by "James," a re-telling of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," penned by Percival Everett, for February.
As the year progresses, members will delve into other captivating reads such as Pico Iyer's "Aflame," a book that made a significant impact in 2024. The club's selection process is unique, with members bringing books to pitch, and all decisions being made on the night of the exchange.
The book club tradition is reminiscent of the Icelandic "Christmas Book Flood" (Jolabokaflod), where families carefully select books for each member after receiving a catalog of new publications in November.
During the cookie exchange, the club also decides who will host and lead discussions each month. This year, the club has chosen a diverse range of books, ensuring engaging discussions and a rich literary experience for all.
In addition to the book selections, Shannon has recommended Molly O'Neill's Pistachio-Lemon Bars for the cookie exchange, promising a delightful treat to complement the evening's literary festivities.
Looking forward, an extra credit spot is reserved for the still-to-be-announced spring speaker of Lunch for Libraries, a joint initiative by the Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison Public Library Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Go Big Read.
Pico Iyer, a frequent visitor to a Benedectine Hermitage in Big Sur, California, made over 100 retreats over the past 30 years, adding another layer of literary intrigue to the book club's upcoming discussions.
Lastly, two books picked up at a local independent bookstore during a holiday tradition in 2024, Jennifer Croft's "The Extinction of Irena Ray" and Kaveh Akbar's "Martyr!," are also on the club's reading list for this year.
Stay tuned for more updates on the book club's literary adventures and delicious cookie exchange!
- To complement the literary journey of the book club, a recommendation for food-and-drink has been made – Shannon has suggested Molly O'Neill's Pistachio-Lemon Bars to be a delightful treat during the annual cookie exchange.
- Apart from the annual book selections, the book club's lifestyle includes exploring entertainment avenues as well – this year, an extra credit spot has been reserved for the still-to-be-announced spring speaker of Lunch for Libraries, a joint initiative involving the Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison Public Library Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Go Big Read.
